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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the takeoff
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 18 stages, 16 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
One stabilised approach gate: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate was not assessed, because the approach did not join final that far out.
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,803 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 235 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in the B-1B Lancer began with a taxi from the parking area to the runway at EGPH Edinburgh Airport, which took 11 minutes to cover a distance of 3 nm. The departure roll occurred on runway 24, with a takeoff distance of 2,177 m, which was 102% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 175 kn. The local weather at the time of departure indicated a temperature of 15 °C, with a 6 kn wind coming from 270° resulting in a crosswind of 3 kn and a headwind of 5 kn.
The enroute climb began over Newbridge in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, where the aircraft climbed from 1,181 ft asl to 32,069 ft asl, an increase of 30,889 ft in 11 minutes while covering 66 nm. The enroute level cruise phase started 2 miles north of Aspatria in Cumbria, England, lasting 16 minutes and covering 175 nm.
The enroute descent phase commenced 1 mile north of Northampton in Northamptonshire, England, with the aircraft descending from 32,141 ft asl to 1,806 ft asl, a decrease of 30,335 ft over 11 minutes while covering 31 nm. The landing took place on runway 10 at EGUN RAF Mildenhall, with a runway length of 2,803 m. The height at threshold was 32 ft agl, and the touchdown occurred 237 m from the threshold. The touchdown speed was 167 kn, with a vertical speed indicator reading of -647 ft/min. The local weather at the time of landing showed a temperature of 13 °C, with a 9 kn wind coming from 120°, resulting in a 3 kn crosswind and a 9 kn headwind. The total landing distance was 730 m, which was 26% of the runway length.
Overall, the flight covered a total distance of 298 nm, lasting 180 minutes and consuming 16,553 kg of fuel.
First and foremost, I want to commend the pilot for achieving an impressive landing score of 95.4%. This indicates a high level of skill and competency in executing the various phases of the aircraft landing process.
Starting with the Approach Phase, it is evident that the pilot displayed excellent glideslope alignment, which is crucial for ensuring a smooth and controlled descent towards the runway. However, it is noted that the speed was excessively high during this phase. It is important to maintain an appropriate approach speed to ensure a safe and efficient landing.
Moving on to the Landing Phase, the pilot demonstrated good threshold height awareness but struggled with the landing flare. The landing flare is a critical maneuver that helps to reduce the rate of descent and ensure a gentle touchdown. Improving this aspect of the landing technique will contribute to a smoother and more controlled landing.
In the Touchdown Phase, although the touchdown rate was described as very heavy and the speed was excessively high, it is worth noting that the touchdown distance inside the touchdown zone and the runway touchdown position were both very good. This indicates a high level of precision and accuracy in landing the aircraft in the desired location on the runway.
Finally, in the Rollout Phase, the pilot maintained excellent runway alignment, which is essential for ensuring a safe and efficient rollout after touchdown. Maintaining proper alignment helps to prevent runway excursion and ensures smooth taxiing off the runway.
Overall, while there are areas that can be improved upon, such as maintaining appropriate speeds and improving the landing flare technique, this landing score of 95.4% reflects a strong performance by the pilot. With continued practice and attention to these key areas, I have no doubt that the pilot will continue to excel in future landings. Keep up the good work and continue to strive for excellence in your flying skills.
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